Owen C. Ross

Huntington Police Department — Huntington, WV

Felonious

End of Watch August 4, 1901

Age 25

The Vigil Panel 17 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 7

Incident

Police Officer Owen Ross was shot and killed by a wealthy, well-connected local political figure who had received a commission as a Deputy United States Marshal.

Officer Ross was acting as the patrol wagon driver and was transporting a prisoner to jail for a local offense. The deputy marshal confronted Officer Ross and demanded that the prisoner be freed. Officer Ross refused to release the prisoner and a heated argument ensued in which Officer Ross drew his weapon. The deputy marshal left the scene, but returned after retrieving a revolver. He then shot Officer Ross in the back several times, killing him.

The man was charged with Officer Ross' murder but used his political connections during the ensuing trials and convictions. He was tried four times and was eventually only convicted of involuntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to one day in jail and fined $1. The following year he was convicted of operating over 500 illegal slot machines throughout the state.

There is a place for people like your assailant, as he surely faced a higher court and authority at a later time in a different place. Rest in peace always knowing that your service will never, ever be forgotten as no passage of time will ever erase your sacrifice.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) August 4th, 2020

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-4AF9744F
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Ross served with the Huntington Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Huntington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Ross.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Huntington Police Department

Location Huntington, WV

Platform Identity hpd.cabell.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 4, 1901

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to 1 day

Police Officer Owen C. Ross is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Huntington Police Department, 6 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Huntington Police Department

of 8 officers

75% Felonious

WV — Statewide

169

of 232 officers

72.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious